Craig Clouston

 

Drinking Buddies

August 15

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Hebrews 5:18

The four Sholan brothers were a talented. Their family band, ‘Whippoorwill’ played frequently throughout the continental United States. Many weekends they treated the neighborhood to a country music concert of sorts as their band practiced for upcoming gigs on the front porch. They were, quite honestly, very good. The problem was they were not just brothers, they were drinking buddies. For the most part, no one complained about the noise…except on the weekends they drank. On those weekends their mood shifted from placid amicability, to raucous indifference.

The atmosphere around the neighborhood became tense. Their song choice took on a darker tone; songs with questionable lyrics were belted out without consideration that ladies, teens and toddlers were present, and within earshot. When that happened trouble wasn’t far behind. Parents would herd their kids indoors before the usual tripping over cords and falling over amplifiers ensued.

In the end, the neighbors took the issue to City Council, where council members passed an ordnance forbidding the ‘outdoor’ playing of music without the issuance of a special permit.

Eventually, a spirit of animosity towards each other settled over the neighborhood.

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When we drink to get ‘comfortable with ourselves’ or set out to drown our sorrows, we numb our senses. God says not to do that. Drinking leaves us vulnerable, and causes us to do things we mostly regret, or even worse, don’t remember. We not only make fools of ourselves, we are in dangerous territory.

God wants drinking buddies, but not the alcoholic kind. He wants those who are willing to drink deep of His Spirit, those who want to be filled with the joy and wonder of His anointing and love.

When we get drunk on wine we lose self-control, we shut out the voice of God and reason, and we are no longer able to discipline ourselves with wisdom and good judgment. And…we also annoy a lot of innocent people.

Prayer

“Keep me from the debauchery of alcohol and other sordid mind altering chemicals. I would much rather know what it feels like to be drunk in the Spirit. Right now, in this moment, fill me with joy and laughter. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”